MS. PERINO: Hello. Happy Friday. Today Senator John McCain announced his
vice presidential pick, Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska. The White House is
energized and excited by this choice. President Bush called Governor Palin
just before his meeting with President Kikwete of Tanzania. He said that
the McCain-Palin ticket is very strong. He wished her good luck, told her
that she will be a fantastic vice presidential candidate, and that he is
looking forward to a great victory in November.

Also, President Bush today just issued an emergency declaration for the
state of Louisiana. This declaration provides for federal aid to
supplement the state and local preparations for tropical storm -- or soon
to be hurricane Gustav. FEMA is authorized to provide resources,
equipment, and direct federal assistance. Secretary Chertoff and
Administrator Paulison have been in the Gulf Coast region meeting with
state and local officials about the preparations, and today Secretary
Chertoff will be traveling to Mississippi and will meet Governor Barbour
about Mississippi's planning for the potential landfall of the storm.

And that's all I have.

Q Dana, on the storm, does the President still plan to go to the
convention, regardless of what happens with the weather?

MS. PERINO: We have no changes to the schedule, and we'll let you know if
there are any.

Q Can you give us any indication of what he's going to be speaking
about?

MS. PERINO: Sure, happy to. The President is looking forward to the honor
of speaking at the Republican Convention on Monday night. The speech
expresses gratitude. The President will thank his family, his
administration, and most of all, the friends, supporters and volunteers in
the convention hall who have supported him and the Republican agenda for
these past eight years.

The speech reviews the major issues facing the country, from terrorism and
war to the economy and the direction of our culture. Above all, the speech
reflects on the role of the presidency and the qualities that are demanded
by the job, and makes the case that John McCain is the best qualified to be
our next leader and commander-in-chief. In particular, it highlights
McCain's unique judgment, perspective, and experience to deal with the
unexpected, to stand firm on his convictions, put the country above
himself, and make hard decisions necessary to protect the American people.

The speech rallies Republicans to have confidence in America's future and
to do everything they can to elect John McCain to the presidency.

A couple of things that the speech does not do: Do not expect this speech
to define the President's legacy. This is not an opportunity to recap
accomplishments of the past seven and a half years. It will not serve as a
farewell to the American people, and it certainly will not attack Barack
Obama.

Q Why not? I mean, this week --

MS. PERINO: Because he's got class.

Q -- the President has taken a great deal of criticism. Every speaker
it seemed at the Democratic Convention spoke about the failed policies of
the Bush presidency. Does he not want a forum in which to answer that
criticism?

MS. PERINO: But this President knows better than almost any politician in
America what it's like to face criticism. He watched his dad as vice
presidential candidate for two terms go through that, and then when his dad
ran for President, he saw it again, and then in his own campaigns, the two
national elections. He knows what it's like in high political season, and
he's not going to respond to every attack.

But some of the attacks are just out-and-out false; for example, suggesting
that the Bush administration hasn't invested in alternative or renewable
energies. Everybody in this room knows that that's not true. So we're in
high political season. We're not going to let it get to us. We're going
to focus on the big picture. And most importantly, President Bush will be
working to make sure that John McCain is the next President of the United
States.

Q Are there any other -- any other role for him planned at the
convention? I know he's going in Monday to give the speech, he goes back
out, but is he going to be doing anything else?

MS. PERINO: I think that's it. We're just going to be giving the speech,
and then in the tradition of past Presidents, he will spend the rest of the
week, we call it down, and he'll be at Camp David for the week. So we get
back from Minnesota and go straight to Camp.

Q Okay. And one other question about -- back on the hurricane.
Obviously things will be developing over the weekend. Are there plans for
either anything happening here at the White House, or for the President to
do or say anything over the weekend?

MS. PERINO: At the moment, nothing to be -- for a presidential event that
would be open to the public. But he will be getting an update in the
morning. He's gotten -- he had, I think, two today already. And when
Chertoff and Paulison have updates they pass them either through senior
staff or directly to the President. Secretary Chertoff spoke to the
President yesterday by phone.

Look, we're taking the storm very seriously. Thankfully, so are the
leaders of the states that could be impacted, and they seem to be well
prepared. We certainly applaud the state leaders for all that they've done
to get their regions organized, to provide for early evacuation for people
with special needs who might need it. So everything seems like it's on
track. But it's a very serious storm and so we are taking it seriously.
And things could change in a moment's notice. Right now the storm is
scheduled to land Tuesday afternoon, but we've seen that change over the
hour.

Q When do you make the call on whether or not the storm affects the
President's plans? Sunday? Monday?

MS. PERINO: All I know is, not right now. (Laughter.) I don't know,
Wendell. It's hard to say. It's speculation and if I were to guess I'd
probably be wrong.

Q Dana, are you saying that some of the criticisms that Senator Obama
had last night in his acceptance speech of the Bush administration and of
the President were out-and-out false? And if so, can you specify beyond
energy policy?

MS. PERINO: No, I would look to -- you all can fact-check it yourselves.
We're not going to. I'm not going to get into the -- into a back-and-forth
with the Democratic presidential candidate, who had a really good
convention and -- but we do recognize that this President has been unfairly
attacked across the board by many Democrats for quite a while. But
certainly as we get into this last eight weeks of the presidential
campaign, tensions will probably flare, but this President has a lot of
class, he's very gracious, and he also is very focused. And so nothing
gets him off his game.

Go ahead, Olivier.

Q Dana, Georgia has cut off diplomatic relations with Russia. I wonder
if you have a reaction to that.

MS. PERINO: Well, I'm certainly not surprised. And we continue to be
dismayed that Russia has not fulfilled all of its requirements in the peace
agreement that it signed, the one that Sarkozy sent that was a six-point
plan. So we are focused on trying to make that agreement -- or get that
agreement fulfilled, so those obligations to be fulfilled, and for the
Russian military to be back into its posture that it was in on
-- before the hostilities began on August 7th.

Georgia is going to need the support of the world. There is unison when
you look at the reaction about a country's sovereignty, its independence,
and its territorial integrity. And you've seen across the board, countries
coming forward to announce their support for Georgia, and condemning the
actions of Russia. And the results of that are that Russia is increasingly
isolated, and will bear the consequences of that isolation unless they
fulfill that agreement and then make amends.

Q There is reporting, though, that Secretary Rice is bringing
"clarifications" to the cease-fire agreement that, in fact, would give
ground to Russia; give them rights to patrol more territory in Georgia than
the original cease-fire and make other concessions like that. Is that --
is that completely contradictory to the --

MS. PERINO: I have not heard that and I don't know if it's accurate, but
we'll check on it, or refer you to State.

Kathleen.

Q On the same topic, South Ossetians' parliamentary speaker said that in
meetings between President Medvedev and then the leader of South Ossetia,
that the two men agreed that Russia would absorb South Ossetia in several
years. And then the deputy parliamentary speaker of South Ossetia went on
to say that Russia and South Ossetia are going to be signing an agreement
to allow Russian military installations in South Ossetia.

MS. PERINO: Again, I don't find any of this surprising, given the actions
of the past three weeks. But South Ossetia and Abkhazia are a part of
Georgia under U.N.-recognized laws, in fact, laws and Security Council
resolutions that Russia itself has supported. And I don't believe that
Russia would want anybody questioning its territorial integrity. And we
certainly don't. But we do expect the world to live up to its obligations
to live up to the -- and live up to the law. And the law is that Georgia's
territorial integrity should be intact and it should not be a question.
And so it doesn't surprise me, though, that Russia and South Ossetia or
Abkhazia would be having those conversations.

Q What about this agreement to allow Russian military bases in South
Ossetia? They're supposed to sign that September 2nd. What can -- what
can and will the U.S. do about that?

MS. PERINO: We're taking measured looks at all of this, but it's not just
the United States; this is the international community and especially
Europe, who has been very strong. You've had strong statements out of
NATO, the G7, the OSCE, across the board, and then the individual countries
themselves making strong statements that they stand with Georgia. They
stand for democracy; they believe in the cause that these countries have
been working towards.

And Georgia was a bright shining star economically there in the region, and
they're going to need help reconstructing their economy. Right now what
we're focused on is trying to get humanitarian aid in there, because there
are many people who are homeless, or who are without food or clean drinking
water, and so that has to be our priority right now.

Q But would Russian military bases in South Ossetia be acceptable to the
United States?

MS. PERINO: What we want is the posture before August 6th, and before
August 6th you did not have Russian bases on that territory.

Victoria.

Q What are the President's thoughts on the selection of Governor Palin
as John McCain's running mate?

MS. PERINO: Speaking of that, I actually have a statement by the President
I forgot to read. (Laughter.) We will release it, but let me give it to
you here.

President Bush will say, in his words: Today Senator McCain made an
exciting decision in choosing Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to join him on
his ticket as the vice presidential candidate. Governor Palin is a proven
reformer who is a wise steward of taxpayer dollars and champion for
accountability in government. Governor Palin's success is due to her
dedication to principle and her "roll up your sleeves" work ethic, and
services as a wonderful example of the spirit of America.

By selecting a working mother with a track record of getting things done,
Senator McCain has once again demonstrated his commitment to reforming
Washington.

I applaud Senator McCain for selecting Governor Palin. This decision is
yet another example of why the American people can trust him to make wise
decisions and to confidently lead this country.

Q Has the President spoken to her since he was -- since she was
selected?

MS. PERINO: Yes, I -- that's what I led off the briefing with -- he called
her.

Q He called her?

MS. PERINO: Yes.

Q Dana, does the President believe, with his administration and the
expanded powers given to Vice President Cheney, he has set the model for
future administrations?

MS. PERINO: I reject the notion that expanded powers were given to Vice
President Cheney --

Q I don't say that in a pejorative -- the President has always talked
about the responsibilities that -- perhaps I used the wrong word --
"responsibilities" might have been a better word than "powers." I don't
mean extraconstitutional powers in any way. I mean making Mr. Cheney more
of a partner in the executive than previous administrations have.

MS. PERINO: Yes, I see what you mean.

Q Does he believe he has set a model for future administrations in that
regard?

MS. PERINO: I think it will just depend. President Bush has relied on
Vice President Cheney for many things, and one of it was the experience and
judgment that he brought to the job in a variety of areas, for all of the
service and dedication that he had had over the years. And he's been a
steady hand and a good confidential advisor for this President.

And -- but every President gets to make their own decision as to how their
Vice President would work. But what I saw today was that Senator McCain
fully intends that Governor Palin will be by his side and will be a strong
partner for him, and I think he couldn't have -- made a better choice.

Goyal.

Q Two quick questions. One, did President watch last night Senator
Obama's acceptance speech? And second, also -- same question -- does the
President realize or accept one thing, that Senator Obama made history last
night by being the nominee of a major political party in the U.S. and being
a son of immigrant from Kenya?

MS. PERINO: Sure. President Bush did not stay up to watch the speech last
night, but he did see a lot of the reporting on it this morning and watched
some of the pieces. So he did see it. And absolutely, it was a great
moment for America that we have -- that shows that we've come a long way.
And he certainly congratulated Senator Obama on this achievement and it
speaks volumes for this country, that it's an opportunity -- it's a land of
opportunity for all people. And he's going to be focusing his efforts now
on the contest to come, which is the presidential election and he'll be
supporting John McCain.

Q And second, as far as the President's travel to China -- Olympics now
over -- many human rights groups are asking if President had really
represented them, like Burma, Tibetans, and other groups are asking as far
as human rights in China is concerned, because they think now Chinese have
put under the rug because of Olympics and presidential and many great
leaders were represented there.

MS. PERINO: President Bush did raise all of those issues before he got to
China, and then with the Chinese directly, and he will continue to, as will
the rest of the world, and continue to put pressure to allow for more human
rights in the area.

Go ahead.

Q Two questions back on the Republican Convention.

MS. PERINO: Okay.

Q First off, do you know which convention was the first one the
President ever attended?

MS. PERINO: Not off the top of my head, but we can look for you.

Q And secondly, can you talk a little bit about his feelings about the
changed circumstances? After all the moments of triumph he's had at
conventions, he's going to address a convention this time and they can't
wait to turn the page and go on to the next nominee.

MS. PERINO: I don't think that you can speak for the delegates of this
country, especially of the GOP. This is a party that has stood by the
President, and -- but conventions are about the next President and who the
candidates are going to be, and it's their chance to shine. And we intend
for the spotlight to shine fully on John McCain. And that's what the
President is going to do in his speech, is spend the great majority of it
talking about how our nation has faced significant challenges on several
different fronts, and that John McCain is the type of person who can come
in and start leading immediately, because he's got the experience to do so.

Q So no wistfulness at all on his part?

MS. PERINO: Not from this President, no.

Mark.

Q Dana, do you know if Senator McCain consulted the President about his
running mate choice?

MS. PERINO: No, but we were informed beforehand.

Q Do you know when?

MS. PERINO: In the hour or so before the announcement. Maybe a little bit
before.